Possession is a theme of October’s Taurus Full Moon. The Moon is lighting up what we possess — money, talents resources — here and now in this earthly existence, and especially how we feel about all of it. The theme has another side, though: How and by what are we ourselves possessed?

Indicators of both ends of this spectrum have been flying the past week or two. They have teemed with significant milestones involving matters close to our hearts and bank accounts. Some situations have taken on firmer contours or solidified; others have felt the swift and irreversible whack of a machete. These milestones are key as the landscapes of our lives morph into foundations and structures that replace the chaos of the past three years.

The Taurus Full Moon shows the real-world ramifications of and our very real-world, tangible, physical emotional reactions to what is now taking shape in our lives. Taurus is the “Show Me the Money!” moon, with no taste for the theoretical or impractical. It may have the same ruler as Libra, but unlike that intellectual, word-oriented sign, Taurus takes a simpler, more direct approach to all things Venus (desire, love, money, beauty, creativity and our precious possessions). Instead of running them (and indeed all of existence) through the mind, Taurus experiences them through the body, physically, worldly, sensually. Because the Taurus Full Moon includes Scorpio in this picture, our current responses are instinctual, primal, cellular and tenacious to an extreme.

This Moon spotlights the condition of our toys, our attachment to them, protection of them and, in some cases, ownership by them. Think about what you own. Do you actually use it? Do you enjoy or consume it? Are you burdened by it? Does any of it own you? The Moon also raises questions of nurturance, trust, reliability and dependability. What is nourishing you right now? What is making you feel safe and secure? What (and who) do you love? What (and who) do you value? Who do you trust to come through for you? Do you feel that anything of yours (possessions, job, money, value) is under attack? That someone is trying to take something away from you?

These questions come from the hosts of this Full Moon, the two rulers of desire and money, Venus and Pluto. They have been teaming in the past two weeks to foster those significant milestones. A few other links have been complicating the emotions surging now. Venus is Lucky Pierette between Jupiter (planet of optimism and expansion) and Mars (ruler of our drive and motivation), which is contributing an exaggerated push and even combativeness to behavior and reactions. Venus is also pulling vast emotional wounds to consciousness, through a direct link to Chiron. This combination holds the potential for profound healing and incremental movement on long-standing desires, but it is simultaneously provoking instinctive and non-rational responses.

Watch for the psychological beasties on the rise. Some have been exposed and are simply running amok. Some are reacting to perceived threats to possessions and whipping up insecurities, territorialism, targeting, backbiting, backstabbing, conniving and outright skullduggery. People with the calendar age of adults have been acting like the self-appointed cool kids in junior high, protecting what they perceive to be their turf and entitlement, and attacking those they see as lesser beings (which is to say, threats). The difference between now and junior high is the stakes, which are much, much higher than pushing someone to tears or the counselor’s office. Some of these attacks have the intent and perhaps effect of harming-to-destroying the target’s career, reputation and finances. Recognizing the terror and panic behind this behavior may help you deal with it, if it’s in your life or environment. You are witnessing a form of possession, by demons in their psyches. Strive to view these individuals with compassion — and move anything you care deeply about out of their way.

Spend your energy instead on your own physical reality. Consider the questions inspired by Venus and Pluto. Check with your heart, your gut, your very cells. Look at what has taken shape in your life recently. Put aside your wishes of what might be coming or growing. Ignore promises, or hopes, or the dreams you spin from crumbs someone tosses your way. Look instead at the actual, tangible developments you can taste, touch and embrace. How do they feel? How do they make you feel? What makes you ask, “More, please?” Ask. Then go for it.

Save your broom for flying. Nothing important can be swept under the carpet this week. May as well face it. Halloween brings peace (what the — ?!?) as well as otherworldly company. “Rocky: Are they friendly spirits? Bullwinkle: I’ll say!”

This year’s Libra New Moon hurries us further down the continuum of change. September’s Aries lunar eclipse closed a chapter in how we get along with each other. This New Moon starts the next chapter.

The emerging chapter has very different story lines and language from the previous. They reflect decisions, realizations and shifts each of us has been moving toward since at least the spring. Think of the lines you have drawn, the self-awareness you have developed, the switches that have flipped in various key connections. They are the baseline from which you are starting now.

Enforcing that baseline is the only option, thanks to the influences accompanying the New Moon. This Moon is charged with energies far more direct, abrupt and overtly self-oriented than the grace and refinement of Libra. Propulsive, catalytic, liberating, individuating, they are pressuring us to break outmoded patterns and hang on to that baseline. They come from a tough link to Uranus, which locks this Moon into the radical, individual end of the cosmic change imperative that has been restructuring our worlds inside and out. The chapter starting with this New Moon includes the challenge — and ultimately the ground rule — of being in a relationship yet remaining fully ourselves.

A new phase in communicating is part of this Moon as well. Messenger god Mercury is coming off a six-week retrograde tour of Libra, aka Relationship Central. His turnaround is happening right on top of the North Node, which represents destiny, the direction into which we are moving, and the collective (the experience of the collective as well as our relationship to it). Information is coming to light, messages are flying, conversations are happening and negotiations and agreements are taking place, all with far reaching impact. They are all setting the tone and the terms (and perhaps the cast of characters) for the next chapter.

They have the promise of being discerning, healthy and heart-centered — echoing the Uranian theme of being in relationship without being swallowed up by it. The Libra Moon’s ruler Venus, goddess of all we hold dear, is in improvement mode, which is escalating as she heads for a meeting with expansive, beneficent Jupiter. Desires and fortunate connections are building; so, however, are nitpicking and fault-finding.

Both ends of that spectrum open us to what we want. Make a point to focus on the positive end. Get comfortable with the idea of both asking for what you want and having it. Negotiation is a key component of the Libra Moon, and also the chapter that is launching under it.

Negotiation isn’t likely to be heavy-handed. Empathy, tolerance, creativity and pure love are in abundance, with Venus facing off miracle-making Neptune. He’s also keeper of the cosmic fog machine, so beware: fantasy, illusion and delusion are in abundance, too. So are limits and inner critics. Venus has hit a wall with Saturn, imposer of order and consequences. The impact calls for responsible action. Nothing is trifling now. Approach discussions with respect and seriousness. Especially in new relationships, you’re setting the patterns for how things will proceed. A line comes to mind from an embroidery sampler that hung in my teenage pediatrician’s office: “Choose only a date who would make a good mate.”

The gumption to go after what you want it is coming as well. Mars, Venus’ cosmic lover as well as ruler of our drive, is in pursuit of his beloved. He won’t catch up with her until early November. For now, he’s teaming with Uranus’ partner in the change imperative, Pluto, agent of unavoidable, deep-level transformation.Their collaboration has us working intensely on the revamped foundations, structures and situations.

As the Libra New Moon turns the page, we have the inspiration, tools and incentive to start writing. Word by word, line by line, paragraph by paragraph. This freedom of expression is one of the pay offs of what you’ve come through the past three years. Run with it.